The Tragedy of Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare

Shakespearean drama 3 classifications of Shakespearean drama Tragedy: a play that traces the main character’s downfall Comedy: a play that ends happily and that usually contains many humorous elements. History: a play that chronicles the life of an English monarch.

Tragedy A tragedy is a work in which a series of actions leads to the downfall of the main character or tragic hero.

Qualities of a tragic hero Possesses importance or high rank. Exhibits extraordinary talents Displays a tragic flaw- an error in judgment or defect in character that leads to downfall Faces downfall with courage and dignity

Shakespeare’s plays are verse dramas, plays in which the dialogue consists almost entirely of poetry. His verse dramas were written in blank verse - unrhymed lines. Iambic pentameter- a fixed pattern of rhythm or meter in which most lines contain five stressed syllables each followed by five unstressed syllable. This means there are ten syllables per line. Often in Shakespearean plays, upper-class characters speak in iambic pentameter, while the lower-born characters speak in prose/no poetry.

Blank Verse example U S U S U S U S U S In sooth, / I know / not why / I am / so sad; So, the rhythm of blank verse in iambic pentameter is usually pronounced da dum / da dum / da dum / da dum / da dum

Shakespearean Drama Stage Devices Soliloquy: a long speech given by a character while alone on stage to reveal his or her private thoughts and intentions. Aside: a character’s quiet remark to the audience or another character that no one else on stage is supposed to hear. Monologue: a long speech by one character while other characters on stage listen

Rhetorical Devices Shakespeare’s plays contain speeches known for their use rhetorical devices - use of language and sound to appeal to the audience’s emotions and make the speech more convincing and memorable. Repetition: repeating words and sounds Parallelism: repeated grammatical structures. Rhetorical questions: questions requiring no answer.

Shakespeare’s plays use dramatic irony the audience or reader knows something that one or more characters do not know.   The fourth wall is the imaginary, invisible wall of any room on stage. The “see-through wall: allows the audience to view scene being played inside. It expands the room to include the audience.   A foil character: A character that serves by contrast to highlight or emphasize opposing traits in another character.

The Theater of Shakespeare’s plays 1) Shakespeare’s plays were produced in a public theater, Globe Theater. 2) Public theaters were built around roofless courtyards without artificial light. All plays had to be performed during daylight hours. 3) The theater had 3 levels of galleries with benches where wealthier playgoers sat. 4) Poorer spectators or (groundlings) watched from the courtyard which was called the pit.

The Theater of Shakespeare’s plays There was no scenery in the theaters of Shakespeare’s day. Settings were indicated by references in dialogue. There were elaborate costumes and plenty of props. Women did not perform on the stage of Shakespeare’s day; acting companies were made up only of men and boys. Young boys performed female roles.

The Globe Theatre                             

The stage at The Globe                                                                

Side view of the stage                                                                 

The Gallery during performance                                                                  

Parts of the Globe Theatre cont. Flag- a white flag hoisted above the theatre meant a show would be performed that day. White-comedy, Black-tragedy, Red-history

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Written in England in 1599; setting Rome 45 BC Based upon the assassination of Julius Caesar by his close friends and confidants. Based on Plutarch’s book about the Romans.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Rome was constantly at war. The ruling power of Rome was in the hands of its generals. These generals would contract “private armies” and subdue other countries that were weaker than Rome.

Julius Caesar                                                                 

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. Julius Caesar – born in 100 B.C. in Rome; Rose to power through the use of his oratory/speaking skill; Was a member of the democratic or popular party.

Pompey the Great                  

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. Caesar and Pompey agreed that one would leave to fight every three years. Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus form the First Triumvirate. They took over the Senate and the rulings of Rome for a while.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. The First Triumvirate would not last long due to the jealousy that erupted between Caesar and Pompey.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. Pompey returned early from his sieges and told Caesar that it was his turn to leave again. While Caesar is gone, Pompey uses this opportunity to rally people behind him by claiming that Caesar is too powerful and selfish.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. Pompey declares a war with Caesar. Caesar had the backings of the Legions (army) and Pompey only had the backing of the Senate.

Roman Legionnaire           

Roman Helmets                                  

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. Caesar easily makes his way into Rome and forces Pompey to flee. Caesar was now in total control of Rome.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. Shakespeare’s play begins after Caesar defeats Pompey’s sons.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar cont. German took the name and turned it into Kaiser. The Russian word Czar as well traces its roots back to “Caesar.” The term “caesarian sections,” or “C-sections” can trace its origins back to Julius Caesar because the popular belief was that Caesar did have not a natural childbirth, but instead was “cut from the womb.”

Connection to Shakespeare’s time In 1599, Queen Elizabeth was getting old and had no heirs. There was concern that a civil war could start after her death. Shakespeare may have written The Tragedy of Julius Caesar as a warning.

Important Points to Consider Do the ends ( the outcome) justify the means (what you did)? What is the difference between persuasion and manipulation? Who is the tragic hero? Is Brutus an honorable man?

Summarizer- On the index card Identify and define the three types of drama Provide 2 facts about Shakespeare Provide 1 fact about Caesar

Activator Four sentences- Write about a time you had to persuade someone, teacher, parent, friend. How did you do it?

: Rewrite these statements so that they are true: Caesar is emperor of Rome. Calpurnia is Brutus’s wife. Brutus is trying to persuade Antony to join the conspiracy. Brutus is the head of the conspirators now.

Activator Four sentences- At the end of Scene Two, what does Cassius plan to do to persuade Brutus? What does this tell us about him?

Four sentences- Did Brutus make the right decision? Why or why not? Activator Four sentences- Did Brutus make the right decision? Why or why not?

Correct these sentences- Brutus was the first to stab Julius Caesar. Antony begged the conspirators not to kill him. Antony asked to speak at Caesar’s wedding.

Activator Four sentences- Write a summary of Act III. Be sure to include Caesar’s death and funeral.

Correct these statements Antony considers Octavius to be an errand boy. Cassius accuses Brutus of taking bribes. Brutus takes Cassius’ advice to not go to Philippi. Brutus is visited by Portia’s ghost.

Activator Four sentences- How do you think the play should end? Which side should win? Who should die, and how should they die?